Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again
Words by F. B. Silverwood Music by David Lindeman. Copyright 1922 F.B. Silverwood. Andy Cummings made this memorable recording in the late 1950s of the 1922 composition. It was later covered in the early 1970s by The Sunday Manoa. Although the original song included 4 verses, only the 2 stanzas of the chorus was recorded by both Andy Cummings & The Sunday Manoa.

Chorus:
I seem to hear the Pali calling me
I seem to hear the surf at Waikiki
And from Pacific Heights
I seem to see the lights
Of a city that is very dear to me
I seem to see the waving sugar cane
The coco palms all nodding in the rain
In fancy I am led
Back to dear old Diamond Head
Honolulu, I am coming back again
Honolulu, I am coming back again.

Katchi-Katchi music has come to represent any music performed in Hawaii with a Latin beat. "Katchi-katchi" actually was first coined by immigrant Japanese sugar cane workers to describe the music of their fellow immigrant Puerto Rican sugar cane workers. The scratching sound of the guiro gourd was dubbed "Katchi katchi" to imitate the "shhckkk....shhckkk..." sound of the guiro. "Malia My Tita" was composed in 1965 by Leroy Melandre as a member of Buddy Fo & his Invitations. Their group had a bit hit with the tune. Approximately a decade later, a Puerto Rican group, Miguel Alcaide & his San Juan Quartet, was performing in Hawaii, and decided to make a record here. Micguel Alcaide played lead guitar and sang 3rd voice, Vincent Delgado played percussion and sang lead voice, German Vega played 2nd guitar and sang 2nd voice, and Pablo Ortiz played 3rd guitar and sang 4th voice. They covered "Malia My Tita", and suddenly the local favorite katchi-katchi hit was being played by a real Puerto Rican group. What irony!

Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs & Girdie Bielenson collaborated on the beautiful song, "Nalani" in the late 1940s. Randy Oness & his Select Hawaiian Serenaders first recorded it in 1947, with young Alfred Apaka singing lead. Alfred later recorded it on a solo release. During a party at "Shangra La", the Diamond Head mansion of tobacco heiress Doris Duke, Doris urged special guest Nat King Cole to try his hand at "Nalani". The gathering loved it, so Nat recorded it as soon as he returned to Hollywood. However, it was pulled almost immediately over never explained disputes. Enjoy!

Length:2:53Released on: 01-01-1950Artist/Compiled by: Nat King Cole

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Duke Kahanamoku - - - Sol K. Bright

"Duke Kahanamoku" - (Sol K. Bright) Pictured is the original songsheet owned Harry B. Soria, Sr. at KGU Radio in Honolulu during the late 1930s. (see stamped call letters). Sol K Bright later autographed it to Harry B. Soria, Jr. when appearing on his radio show in the early 1980s. Click to hear the original recording by Sol K. Bright when he was part of Sol Ho'opi'i's Novelty Quartette in the 1930s. * * * * *

DUKE KAHANAMOKU

Words and Music by Sol K. Bright
Dedicated as a deserving tribute

Grand old father Neptune
Awards a golden medal
Duke Kahanamoku
The crown he’ll always wear
King of swimmers famous of the sea
Mermaid beauties keep him company.

Chorus

Duke Kahanamoku
The Pride of all Hawaii
Surfing on a nalu
Appearing like a manu
You would think a moment
He wore a feather garment
Oi’a no’e ka’oi.

Duke Kahanamoku
The idol of Hawaii
Swimming in the ocean
Without the slightest notion
That he’d become kaulana
Throughout the good honua.
Oi’a no’e ka’oi.

King Kamehameha
Conquered the island group
Duke Kahanamoku
He simply conquered all the waters
Then became the king of swimmers
Oh, Duke Kahanamoku
The pride of all Hawaii
Surfing on a nalu
Appearing like a manu
You would think a moment
He wore a feather garment
Oi’a no’e ka’oi.
Oi’a no’e ka’oi.